MATTHEW Geary failed to provide any help to Carl Cope after seeing him stumble and fall to the ground outside an NHS hospital - but he avoided a jail sentence despite a judge condemning his actions as “callous and uncaring”.

Geary was given a suspended eight-month prison term after Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that he failed to provide any help to Mr Cope despite seeing him stumble and fall to the ground.

Geary, who has since resigned from West Midlands Ambulance Service, then went inside Walsall Manor Hospital to summon security staff.

The 36-year-old, from Great Wyrley, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to breaching health and safety laws by failing to conduct a proper examination of Mr Cope or to attempt prompt resuscitation.

Sentencing Geary, Judge John Warner condemned the paramedic’s actions as “callous and uncaring” and wholly at odds with his job.

The court heard that Geary had handed Mr Cope, 47, over to nurses at the hospital and was later seen chatting about football as the patient was slumped beside a bin outside its Accident and Emergency department.

Geary took him to Walsall Manor Hospital A&E, where CCTV images showed the victim ‘struggling to make himself comfortable and visibly in a lot of pain’ in the waiting room.

After seven minutes, Mr Cope went to a nearby shop to get a drink.

On his way back, he collapsed outside the hospital doors - in full view of Geary, who was sat in his ambulance.

Footage showed how Geary watched from the ambulance as Mr Cope stayed on the ground for more than 30 seconds.

Mr Cope is seen getting back up and manages a few more steps before finally collapsing.